Nangong Xiaodie walked up to Shen Nong, not even bothering to curtsy, and looked at her, "On such a cold day, Your Majesty, why are you covered in sweat?"
Shen Nong narrowed her eyes and looked at Nangong Xiaodie, "Nangong Xiaodie, you are merely a concubine, do you intend to overstep your bounds?"
"What if I am a concubine? What if you are the Empress?" Nangong Xiaodie sneered, "Your imperial seal has been confiscated by the Emperor. Who doesn't know why the Emperor spared you from being deposed? The title of Empress is merely an empty name for you. What more do you intend to do to me?"
As Nangong Xiaodie spoke, she actually stepped into Chengan Hall, puffed out her chest, and bumped into Shen Nong.
"You..." Shen Nong looked at her, stunned.
Nangong Xiaodie glanced at the assembled ministers behind her, then at the woman opposite, and shouted into the hall at the top of her lungs, "What if I storm into the hall now? With all the commotion outside, His Majesty hasn't said a word, nor has he sent anyone to deal with it. It's hard to say if His Majesty is even inside!"
"You..."
"Who said His Majesty hasn't sent anyone?" As soon as Nangong Xiaodie finished speaking, Bian Yuncheng emerged, holding a memorial.
Zhong Li recognized the memorial; it was the one submitted by Minister Ling earlier.
"His Majesty has an oral decree," Bian Yuncheng said loudly, glancing at Zhong Li.
Everyone immediately knelt on the ground.
Bian Yuncheng declared, "Hua Rong, the legitimate son of the Hua family, for the matter of Hua Yao, disregarded the safety of Lin Zhou and the nation, and returned to Jincheng without permission. I hereby order the Minister of War, Ling Wei, to go to Lin Zhou to apprehend him. By imperial decree!"
As Bian Yuncheng finished speaking, all eyes turned to Minister Ling.
Minister Ling was still somewhat dazed. Nudged by Minister Qi, he finally reacted and prepared to receive the decree.
"Wait!" As Minister Ling was about to kneel, Zhong Li stopped Ling Wei.
Everyone was confused.
Zhong Li looked at the man before her. He had a refined appearance and an extraordinary bearing, with an elegant demeanor in every movement, seeming like... a musician.
Her heart tightened. She smiled and approached Bian Yuncheng, saying, "I heard before that Eunuch Yun is half a tutor and an advisor to the Crown Prince."
Bian Yuncheng looked at Zhong Li. He didn't want to engage, but out of politeness, he also curved his lips into a smile.
"Since you are an advisor, Zhong Li finds it very puzzling. Regarding the Crown Prince's involvement in the matter of the Hua family's young daughter, was it Eunuch Yun's idea?"
After Zhong Li's statement, everyone began to chuckle.
An advisor? Such a terrible idea would only cause harm.
Bian Yuncheng's face turned ashen, and he glared fiercely at Zhong Li.
Zhong Li was unfazed. She walked over to Ling Wei and said, "Minister Ling, shouldn't you examine the authenticity of the decree in your hand?"
Upon Zhong Li's reminder, Ling Wei quickly opened it to examine it.
After a moment, he said, "It is the Crown Prince's handwriting, yet it doesn't feel quite like it."
Zhong Li glanced at it and said, "It's not just a feeling, sir. It's not the Crown Prince's handwriting at all."
"Zhong Li, I think you are incredibly audacious to question the Emperor. Are you trying to rebel?" Shen Nong, seeing this, pointed at Zhong Li and reprimanded her.
"Rebel? Your Majesty the Empress, why don't you say how I knew this was not written by the Emperor, and instead directly scold me?" Zhong Li narrowed her eyes and met Shen Nong's gaze.
"What do you mean?" Shen Nong clearly started to panic.
Seeing her reaction, Zhong Li became even more certain of something. "Perhaps His Majesty is not even inside? Or maybe..."
She dared not continue.
"Zhong Li..."
"Your Majesty the Empress." Shen Nong was about to argue when Nangong Xiaodie interjected, "You say His Majesty is unwilling to see the court officials, but surely he is willing to see me or the Sixth Prince? We have been standing here with the Prince for the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, and you have not announced us. What is your intention?"
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress, give us an explanation."
"Yes, why has Your Majesty the Empress repeatedly obstructed us?"
As soon as Nangong Xiaodie finished speaking, the ministers began to murmur amongst themselves, crowding towards the hall entrance, demanding to enter.
"Everyone, stay put!" another voice, both unfamiliar and familiar, broke in.
Everyone turned to look towards the source of the voice—inside Chengan Hall.
They saw Lu Jing sitting in a wheelchair being brought out, his eyes tightly closed, a dagger held to his throat. The owner of the dagger stood behind him: Zi Pei, the Empress's personal maid.
"Ah! Guards, quickly! Someone is holding the Emperor hostage, quickly!" Minister Qi reacted and shouted.
Zhong Li's anatomical knife was already in her hand, and she vigilantly stared at Zi Pei opposite her.
Shen Nong and Bian Yuncheng, seeing that the tide had turned and there was no turning back, dropped their pretense and ran to Zi Pei for protection.
At the same time, the imperial guards summoned by Minister Qi had already surrounded them.
Zi Pei's expression was calm. Seeing the guards surrounding the hall layer upon layer, she coldly tightened her grip on the dagger and said, "You can all rush forward, shoot arrows, or stab me through the chest, but I assure you that before that happens, this dagger will pierce the Emperor's chest."
"No!" Nangong Xiaodie cried out in alarm, looking at the man in the wheelchair with his eyes closed with concern.
"Then let us leave?" Zi Pei sneered.
With the Emperor now a hostage and the main instigator of rebellion within the harem, the only hope was Nangong Xiaodie. All eyes turned to her.
Nangong Xiaodie looked at Lu Yuanfeng behind her for guidance.
Lu Yuanfeng nodded.
She then looked at Zhong Li.
Zhong Li scrutinized Lu Jing'an for a long moment, then looked at Zi Pei, and also nodded to Nangong Xiaodie.
Nangong Xiaodie asked, "What do you want?"
Zi Pei looked at Bian Yuncheng.
Bian Yuncheng stated, "We want to go to the Shu Rong Kingdom."
Zhong Li questioned, "Shu Rong is quite far from Jincheng. Are you going to take the Emperor on such a bumpy journey?"
"Hmph! That's my business. You just need to do as we say, and I guarantee the Emperor will be unharmed."
"Alright! Speak!" Zhong Li nodded, already having a general idea of Bian Yuncheng's plan.
"I have purchased a residence in the south of the city. You will use carriages to transport us there. I am waiting for some news. Once the news arrives, I will inform you of how I plan to get to Shu Rong. When you have fulfilled your part, I will naturally release the Emperor." Despite his nervousness, Bian Yuncheng's mind was crystal clear.
"What is this? The culprits have kidnapped the Emperor and now they want to escape? Never! How can our grand state of Nan Yue be controlled by a few scoundrels like you?" Minister Ling, upon hearing this, angrily stepped forward, attempting to apprehend Bian Yuncheng.
However, Bian Yuncheng was as slippery as a loach, zipping behind Lu Jing'an to evade him.
"Hmph, Minister Ling, think carefully about your actions. Don't end up being the one responsible for the Emperor's misfortune due to your impulsiveness!" Bian Yuncheng poked his head out and taunted Minister Ling.
However, his words were surprisingly effective. No one wanted to bear the burden of indirectly causing the Emperor's death and becoming a sinner for eternity. Everyone who had stepped forward to rescue the Emperor hesitated and took a few steps back.
Zhong Li glanced behind her and whispered a few words to Nangong Xiaodie.
Nangong Xiaodie declared, "Alright, I agree, as long as you ensure the Emperor's safety!"
Shen Nong and the other two exchanged glances, a triumphant smile appearing on their faces.